No Weapons for the Army

16 Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people present with them remained in 6Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the road to rOphrah, to the land of Shual, 18 another company turned to the road to sBeth Horon, and another company turned to the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of tZeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now uthere was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.” 20 But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; 21 and the charge for a sharpening was a 7pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. 22 So it came about, on the day of battle, that vthere was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son.

23 wAnd the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.